I'm so excited to have found this forum. I will be retiring in a few years which I can't afford to do, so I decided to do something I always wanted to do in order to earn the money we will need and have fun, so I'm going to TRY to become a clown. I'm registed for basic classes at Clowfest in New Jersey next month and am trying to design my outfit and how I want my face to look or not. I ride a Candy Red Trike Motorcycle and plan to incorporate into my world of future clowning. Just sharing and if anyone wants to support my effort with any info I should have pleaes feel free to do so. I wonder if first volunterring myself would be a start to future income.

Welcome Plum!!

Volunteering is a pretty good way to get your feet wet. You could try asking local nursing homes, hospitals, day cares etc. when you could come and spend some time with them. It's also good because you get to see what works and what doesn't and as far as the patients, children go - you will have made their day and that will make you feel good too.

GiGi :)

Be careful about volunteering.

"The only thing you get from doing a free show, is another free show."


Now, let me explain where I come from. First of all, I don't do
birthday parties, nor do I do any clowning for pay. Everything
I do, I volunteer for my city's Fire Department. I say that so
you know I have nothing against volunteering! Been doing it
for close to 25 years.

I say volunteer your time to worthy causes - hospital and nursing
home clowning. No problem with that. It not only feels good, it
will get your name and face out in front of the public.

But if you want to get into the BUSINESS of clowning, treat it as
a business. If you were going to be a seamstress, or a plumber
in your retirement you would charge for those services, right?

Budget yourself - look at how much startup money you want to
invest in your new business. Use that for initial costumes, makeup,
props, etc. But also use some to make business cards. Consider
a yellow pages ad, newspaper ads, web page (!) etc. Remember,
they can't hire you if they don't know you exist.
Word of mouth is a great advertising medium also, but you have
to get those first jobs to get even that ball rolling.

You are (will be) a professional clown, so charge a reasonable
fee for that service. Just like being a seamstress or plumber
you need to have the skills, so build the skills! Daily, if you
have the time, work on balloon animals, face painting skills and
research what kids are currently into - sponge bob, spider man,
etc. Know your audience.

Practice any chance you get on friends and family. Become comfortable
with your clown character and keep adding to their abilities - juggling,
simple magic, etc. Remember that your "act" needs to be more than
just a string of tricks. It helps for it to be interactive with the audience
and to have a purpose. Maybe have a recurring theme (like: why does
this red silk scarf keep showing up? Vanish it only to have it re-appear
later in the show. Do something else with it. Maybe it is a nuisance that
keeps on irritating you more and more all through your act.

Anyway, my main point is, treat the business of clowning like a business.
Otherwise, you might be better off financially to work at McDonalds or
some other part-time job.

Hope this helps,

Ashes

Welcome, welcome to our site. There are plenty of us here willing to help any way we can. We can also learn from you. Even if you're new.
Ashes gives good advice. When you get ready I'd suggest you call around to see what others charge in your area. Big cities will generally support a higher price, where as small economically depressed area can not and you may need to adjust your prices, by finding out what others charge you can stay in the right ball park. Again welcome, hopefully soon we'll have chat night back and we can all talk in real time. soon.

Ok so thanks so far, great advice and I'm printing the one from Ashes.

Ashes advice is right on the money I myself do a lot of free jobs but Ialso run it like a bussiness you have to consider the cost of everything
I use the free jobs as a learning tool to try out new routines which benifits the charity and myself This lets you find tune things so the paying customers get their moneys worth
But I also feel if it was just about the money I wouldnt enjoy it as much

You're right, It isn't for the money. There are other
ways to make just as much or more money in an easier
fashion.

I think my post really says to remember the business side,
and don't let yourself be taken advantage of.

Clowns aren't the only group that aren't necessarily good business
people -- Doctors are notoriously bad business people. They
have a wonderful caring attitude and have spent a lot of years
learning to care for people, but they are under-trained in business
practices.

Ashes

Hey there Plum!

Us other fruits here welcome you with open arms!

This place is awesome, just wish the doggone photo gallery was working, and the THURS CHAT was back, but other than that, it's great!

I am new this forum. I primarily am a puppet builder but I would like to venture into clowning. I am interested in the Aguste type clown. I'm the type person I like to know what I'm doing before I do it. I am a moderator on a public puppet forum. I have learned from so many there and feel that this is the place for me to learn and grow. I have never been a clown other than at a costume party but really want to add it to my list of catering ,puppet building, I also want to learn balloon sculpting I just got my new vidieos and balloons. I have a idea of what I would like my costume to look like. I can use some advice as to where to start.
Hollywood :lol:

Welcome Hollywood, glad to have you with us. Anything in particular? I'm a bad speller and bad with names so I can't list books but Scruffy can help you with that. You can also check out your local library. If you can, try to attend a workshop, they are usually on the weekend and don't cost a lot, this I think is the most helpful because you see things in person and get lots of ideas. Check out www.clownevents.com.

Welcome Hollywood!

GiGi :)

Welcome Plum!
I too, am new to clowning. You'll find all the information you need here(and then some).



Btw Bips, was the "just wish the doggone photo gallery was working, and the THURS CHAT was back" a hint to Dave by any chance? :D

Ahem*

***Points to the menu***
:roll:

Ahem*

***Points to the menu***
:roll:
Point taken 8)

Welcome hollywood!

Here are the books you need

Creative Clowning by bruce Fife, Tony blanco
How to be a clown by turk Pipin
Strutters complete guide to clown makeup by Jim Roberts

If magic is also an interest, then Add Clown Magic by David Ginn

If you only want to spring for one, then Get creative clowning. an excellent book that covers the basics including puppetry, balancing, juggling, makeup, even the business side of being a party clown.
I checked out your website. Nice work! Do you ever do custom foam work? I have an Idea for a golf club. :D Should be a good skit when I get it figured out.
Again, Welcome!
Scruffy

Scruffy and friends
Thank you for the nice welcome. I will definately check out the books to add to my growing libary of puppetry books.
I can do custom work but primarily teach teachers, youth leaders, libary assistance the art of puppetry and how to build a puppet. I will be glad to work with you on your golf club idea you can also visit the public forum all those guys will give you great ideas to help you with your project. http://www.puppetsandstuff.com You may know the site administrator Wildjoker
You can e-mail me or use msn messenger or yahoo if you need to get in touch with me. My name is Billy but hollywood is going to be my clown name.
Quick question before I use this name do I have to check a national registry to see if this name is allready taken. I realize that people do use clowning as a source of income and others for fun. I just want to follow the correct protocol.
Hollywood/Billy

Welcome, Hollywood!

I don't think you have to worry about the clown name unless there
is already a "Hollywood" in your area where you would be directly
competing.

I would also avoid the big-name obvious ones like "Ronald McDonald"
or "Bozo" -- those would get you in trouble for sure.

But I'm sure there are many clown names that are duplicated across
the country and around the world. Just be sensitive to established
clowns in your marketing area.

And the same goes with makeup -- don't copy another clowns face.
Odds are, it wouldn't work for you anyway. Instead, use YOUR face
as the canvas and use makeup to emphasize YOUR expressions and
facial features.

I've said this in other threads - remember that makeup isn't a mask
to hide behind, but was traditionally (and still is!) used to help convey
expression to the back of the room before there were microphones and
sound systems and such.

Clowns are just "live-action" puppets in a lot of ways. Or, my friend likes
to say that we're live cartoon characters. Use a lot of motion -- animate,
animate, animate!

Be sure to look at and use the books that Scruffy recommends - you may
even find them in your local library.
And feel free to post questions here - there's a lot of help to be found.

Ashes

Welcome hollywood! Sorry I missed you in my last post. :lol:

Hollywood;

I don't think so. If you started using Ronald, or Shakes, orBozo, It could cause a problem. But, it's not uncommon for a prson to meet another person with the same first name, so why not clowns too?

I know there are other Scruffy's out there, But "we" don't have the same personalities. Just like people!

Welcome! Ashes & Jamz2 give great advice! The tip I have is to be careful on your advertising! I got myself into a bind when I started my business years ago. I was talked into the biggest, most colorful yellow pages ads on the planet! Then all sorts of other advertising to boot! Before I knew it, my overhead, business expenses, were over my head! I would NEVER make enough money to support thousands of dollars a month in my advertising costs! I am now advertising at a minimum and making a profit! Just like you want to do! So consider when what to charge, how much do you need to cover your expenses? Make up, costume, GAS, electricity, supplies, advertising, and most improtantly, YOUR TIME! You are valuable and your time is priceless! Saphire Sue is correct in that you do need to make sure you are charging according to what other clowns in your area charge. If you really undercut them, you'll make enemies fast! If you overprice, you won't get any business! I learned that the hard way to! Where was the forum when I needed it? Read the books Scruffy suggests! Have fun a Clown Fest! I went years ago! Wish I could go this year! Take a notebook!!!

Great post, PremierSparkles!

I think that we should start a topic: The Business Side Of Clowning --

It's one thing to put on the makeup and entertain - we all do that because
we love it. But trying to make a go of it as a business, well, that is where
it is "burn and learn" so to speak -- learn from your mistakes.

If we could help others learn from our mistakes before they make the
same ones, maybe it would help move them down the road with fewer
bumps.

Just a thought!

Ashes

Oh, and good points about over-advertising...

But advertising is a necessary overhead cost - it is what
brings in the $$ eventually.

It might be worth while to blitz things your first year to
get your name out there, and then cut the advertising
expenses way back to a level you can support from the
gigs you get.

Just be careful about long-term committment of your
advertising $$ and try to find out how folks heard about
you. Reward the advertising mediums that get you
noticed by continuing or expanding your coverage there
and cut back on those that don't bring in enough responses
to justify the cost.

Ashes

Oh, and good points about over-advertising...

But advertising is a necessary overhead cost - it is what
brings in the $$ eventually.

Reward the advertising mediums that get you
noticed by continuing or expanding your coverage there
and cut back on those that don't bring in enough responses
to justify the cost.

Ashes

I couldn't agree more Ashes. The old saying, you can't make money without spending it! I have found though that usually you only have 3 or 4 clowns in the phone book. Every mom or company is going to call all of them to price / quality compare, no matter who hasthe biggest ad. It's not like we are competing against Dr's. ya know. :) So, now I just put in the name & number of my company for $10 - 15 bucks a month, depending on what city. I am in several cities. My call volume hasn't dropped at all from when I had huge ad's. I also keep flyers in local party shops & florists. I track carefully what ads are working & have dropped ads from some of the smaller pamphlets.

We do need just a topic on The Business of Clowning!

Thanks Ashes!